Mira’s List

I’m totally excited about this new blog, Mira’s List, which is a free resource for artists of all disciplines and provides current info on grants, fellowships, and residencies.  Sure it has the deadlines, but it also has tips on filling out applications and advice on conquering the inner demons that keep artists from achieving their goals:

What’s the worst that can happen if you just apply for something? Okay. You don’t get the award. Does that mean you truly suck and should just quit making art right now? Or are you more afraid that you might get the award and then have to deal with the responsibility of the hard work that follows, maybe even the success that follows the completion of the work[?]

I would definitely recommend checking it out.

I’m planning to schedule myself a day very soon, possibly paired up with Steph, where I can do nothing all day but send out my work to publications and apply for contests and residencies and grants.  Certainly, fear plays a large part in my reluctancy to submit my work, but also the feeling that it isn’t “done” or “there yet” or “as good as I want it to be,” even though I know that it is unlikely to ever be any of those things.  It is as if I’m looking for a sign that it is time to really push my work, but what if looking for a sign/that right time is really a mask for the fear of looking foolish?

I’m a little all over the place lately with the work I’m making and I long for some sort of structured project.  I suppose that structure will come when the right idea comes to me.  For now, another (stand-alone?) image:

© Caleb Cole